Write Out Cape Cod Invites the Community to “Write Where We Stand”
New regional initiative connects writing, the arts, conservation, and a sense of nature and place October 11–25
CAPE COD, MA — What happens when we take our writing outside—to a favorite trail, the shoreline, a backyard, a classroom, or a place that holds a cherished memory? This fall, Write Out Cape Cod invites everyone to find out.
Taking place October 11–25, 2026, Write Out Cape Cod is a free and open-to-all celebration of writing and place. Educators, students, families, friends, and community members are encouraged to step beyond the walls of classrooms, homes, and workspaces to observe, reflect, write, and share stories inspired by the world around them.
This year’s national Write Out theme, “Write Where We Stand,” asks participants to consider the natural places that shape and sustain us—and to explore how writing can deepen our connections to nature, community, history, and home.
The launch of Write Out Cape Cod represents the first regional collaboration of its kind in the nation, bringing together Cape Cod’s vibrant arts community and its extraordinary network of protected natural spaces. Championed by Barnstable Land Trust and inspired by the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod’s Creative Conversation Series, the initiative brings the spirit of the National Writing Project’s Write Out program to Cape Cod through a distinctly local lens.
“Cape Cod’s natural beauty has always inspired people to pay attention—to the changing light, the water, the landscape, and the stories embedded in the places we know and love,” said Janet Milkman, Executive Director of Barnstable Land Trust. “Barnstable Land Trust is proud to champion the inaugural Write Out Cape Cod, a ground-breaking collaboration that gives people another way to connect to our natural environment.”
“Creative expression helps us understand ourselves, our communities, and the places we call home,” said Julie Wake, Executive Director of the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod. “Write Out Cape Cod expands that conversation by inviting people to experience Cape Cod not just as a beautiful destination, but as a place filled with stories, memories, questions, and perspectives that are inspired by the natural spaces and places that Cape Cod is known for. We’re excited to work with Barnstable Land Trust to help create an opportunity for people across our region to share those stories and feelings.”
“We’re delighted to see Cape Cod create a regional expression of Write Out that brings together writers, educators, artists, conservationists, and community members. Hopefully it will serve as an inspiring model for other parts of the country” said Christina Cantrill, Director of Community Partnerships for the National Writing Project.
During the two-week celebration, participants will be encouraged to write wherever they stand and in whatever form feels meaningful—from poetry and journaling to personal essays, observations, stories, and creative nonfiction. Writing can happen individually or collectively, outdoors or indoors, and at any place that sparks curiosity, memory, reflection, or connection.
At its heart, Write Out Cape Cod is about paying attention: to the land beneath our feet, the communities around us that celebrate our natural surroundings, and the stories that connect us to Cape Cod. “Write Where We Stand” is an invitation to do just that.
For information about Write Out Cape Cod, participation opportunities, and resources, visit https://blt.org/writeoutcapecod . For a calendar of events, go to the Arts Foundation event calendar https://artscapecod.org/ and use the search by keywords feature using “Write Out Cape Cod.” For more information about the national Write Out program, go to https://writeout.nwp.org/
Barnstable Land Trust (BLT) is a community-supported, nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving open space and natural resources in the Town of Barnstable and nearby areas. BLT has protected 1,250 acres in the Town of Barnstable and supported the Town in conserving over 11,000 more. As a regional leader in collaborative land preservation and stewardship, community engagement, training, and advocacy, BLT also leverages its conservation expertise to inform local public decisions as they impact our ecosystems, community health, well-being, and quality of life. To learn more about BLT, visit the website at http://www.BLT.org or call 508-771-2585. To view one of their free trail guides (Barnstable Trail Guide, Cape Cod Pathways/Barnstable Trail Guide, and Eagle Pond & Little River Sanctuary Trail Guide), click here; to learn more about their Words in the Wild poetry initiative on the trails click here.
Founded in 1987, the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod is the regional arts agency for Barnstable County. Its mission is to support and strengthen a vibrant arts and cultural sector for everyone in the region. The Arts Foundation fulfills that mission by funding grants, increasing access to arts and culture across Cape Cod, advocating for the impact of the Cape's creative economy, and building a strong arts community network through membership and professional development programs like Creative Exchange. To learn more, visit artsfoundation.org. Through its mission, the National Writing Project (NWP) focuses the knowledge, expertise, and leadership of the nation's educators on sustained efforts to help youth become successful writers and learners. NWP works in partnership with local Writing Project sites, located on nearly 150 university and college campuses, to provide high quality professional development in schools, universities, libraries, museums, and after-school programs. NWP envisions a future where every person is an accomplished writer, engaged learner, and active participant in a digital, interconnected world.